Animal trap



Patented Decu 23, 1924.

UNITED STATES Mons M. BERG, or DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

ANIMAL Application filed Mayy 3, 1923.

To all 107mm t may concern e it known that l, MoNs M. BERG; a citizen ofthe Unite-d States, resident of Duluth, St. Louis County, State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AnimalTraps, of which the follon7` ing is a specification.

The ob-ject of my invention is to provide trap for catching mice, rats,and the like, anda trap that will be selfesetting, or so constructedthat it will return to its normal position after being sprung by theentrance of the animal therein. v

A.. further and particular object is to proride a trap composed of partsstamped or pressed from sheet metal and hence of very inexpensiveconstruction and comparatively small selling price.

The invention consists generally in varions constructions` andcombinations all as hereinaft-er described and particularly pointed outin the claims. n

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure l is a perspective view of my irnproved trap applied to asuitable receptacle such as an ordinary house pail;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the wall of the pailshowing the manner of mounting the device thereon;

Figures 3, LL, and 5 ar-e perspective views of the elements of the trapin position to be assembled Figure 6 is a sectional view through theclip device by means of which the trap is mounted on the receptacle.

ln the drawings:

2 represents a suitable open top receptacle preferably the ordinaryhouse pail adapted to contain a quantity of water. This pail has theusual bead 3 around the upper edge of its walls. 4C is a clip formedpreferably from one piece of sheet metal having flanges 5 and 6 whichare pressed apart to allow the insertion of the bead 3 between them; theouter wall of the bead bearing on the inner face of the flange 5 andguiding the clip to its seat on the bead.

The upper portion of this clip has transverse slots 7 therein and aplate 8 also formed of sheet metal has tongues 9 on the under sidethereof to enter the slot 7 and hold the plate firmly on the clip. Theouter end of the plate has a downwardly turned portion 10 terminating ina flat section 11 whereto a suitable inclined runway 12 is TRAP.

serial No. 636,411.

attached by suitable means, such'as prongs pressedl up out of said flatsection. This inclined runway serves as a means for the animalapproaching the trap to reach the plate 8 onthe top of the receptacle.

The inner end of the plate projects into the receptaclel and has notches13 on each side thereof forming lugs let which are preferably pressedout of the metal composing the plate when it is formed. 15 is a tiltingplatform also pressed from sheet metal and having formed near the centerthereofe on its opposite edges, an eye 16 and a lug 1.both the loopforming the eye and the lug being` pressed out of the sheet metal in theact of stamping the plate. The lugs 1-t are tilted down slightly, andone lug` is adapted to enter the eye 16 while the other lug` engageswith the lug 17; the end of the plate 8 forming a pivotal support forthe tilting platform. The platform is made of comparatively thinsheet'metal, and l prefer to provide longitudinal ribs 18 therein forstiffening purposes. When the platform is mounted on the plate 8 itnormally will lie by gravity in a horizontal position as indicated inFigure 2. Vhen, however, an animal such as a mouse or rat walks ontothis tilting platform, it will immediately assume the position indicatedby dotted lines in Figure 2 and precipitate the animal into thereceptacle beneath.

The bait for the trap is preferably mounted upon a wire rod 19 having anangular end portion 20 that is inserted into a socket 21 formed in theplate 8 adjacent its inner end; the rod projecting inwardly over thereceptacle and adapted to support a piece of cheese or other food whichwill attract the animal to be captured. lVheIr ever an animal has walkedon the tilting platform and been precipitated into fthe water beneath,the platform will immediately return to its normal horizontal positionit' and therefore become self-setting ready to repeat its operation.

It will be noted that this device is pressed or stamped from sheet metaland when the necessary dies or tools have been made, the manufacturingcost may be reduced to a minimum. Furthermore, the trap made in this waycan be sold in knock-down form and assembled easily and quickly by theuser. This knock-down construction effects, therefore, considerablesaving in space required for a stock of the traps and also lll-5 permitsit to be mailed or otherwise shipped in a small compact package.

I claim as my invention:

l. An animal trap comprising a elip inember adapted to be mounted on theupper Wall of a receptacle, a Xed sheet metal plate member having atongue and slot Connection with said clip, a tilting plate form havingmeans for pivotal connection With said plate to normally rest by gravitythereon with its inner end overhanging the receptacle but adapted totilt under the Weight of the animal thereon, and a baitsupport mountedat one end on said fixed plate and having its other end overhanging thereceptacle adjacent the inner end of said tilting platform.

2. An animal trap comprising a clip pressed from sheet metal and havingflanges for grasping the Walls of an open top re ing it on an open topreceptacle, and having lugs pressed out of its inner end, a tiltingsheet metal platform having` a loop and a lug pressed out near itsmiddle portion to interlock With the lugs on said plate, and abait-supporting means mounted on said plate. I

4. An animal trap Comprising a Clip adapted to clasp the upper edge ofthe Wall of an open top receptacle, a plate having means for fixedengagement with said clip, a tilting platform having means for pivotalengagement With one end of said plate, said clip, plate, and platformbeing all pressed from sheet metal and their engaging means being formedtherein pressing operation.

5. An animal trap Comprising a Clip pressed from sheet meta-l and havingmeans for grasping the Walls of an open top reeeptaole, a plate alsopressed from sheet metal and adapted to rest on the top of said Clip,said clip and plate having interlocking tongues and slots engaged byrelative lateral movement, a tilting platform also pressed from sheetmetal and pivotally connected at its middle portion With the inner endof said plate and a bait-supporting means mounted on said plate.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of April1928.

lMONS M. BERG.

during the

